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New Year's Resolution: Get Sustainable Maryland Certified! - "Dead Malls" an Opportunity to Retrofit Maryland's Suburbs - Follow UMD-EFC on Twitter
Our monthly sampling of news, resources, events and other items of interest from across the sustainability spectrum in Maryland.
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University of Maryland, McKeldin Mall
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GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
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Charles County Forestry Grant ProgramDeadline: Rolling More infoCommunity Engagement & Restoration Mini-grantsDeadline: Rolling More infoPrince Georges County Weatherization Program Deadline: Rolling Prince Georges County Raincheck Rebate
Deadline: Rolling More infoMEA Maryland Smart Energy Communities Grants - NEW COMMUNITIESDeadline: January 26 LinkMEA Parking Lot Solar Canopy with Electric Vehicle ChargersDeadline: March 2 Link
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EVENTS CALENDAR
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Growth and the Future of the Chesapeake Bay Conference Location: Hood College, Frederick Dates: January 13-14 Link
Beyond the Lawn: Landscaping with Nature workshop Location: Westminster Date: January 17 Link
Cultivate the Chesapeake Foodshed Annual Conference Location: College Park Dates: January 15-17 LinkMonitoring for Climate Change in MD's Non-Tidal Streams (workshop) Location: Laurel Date: January 27 Link
Light after the Storm: Strategies for Revitalization after the Recession (workshop for local elected officials) Location: Baltimore Date: January 28 Link
New Partners for Smart Growth National Conference Location: Baltimore
Dates: January 29-31
LinkBethesda Green's Fields of Green Internship Fair Location: Bethesda Date: January 31 LinkLooking AheadMaryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Educators Annual ConferenceLocation: Ocean City
Dates: February 5-8
Frederick County Green Team SummitLocation: Frederick, City Hall Annex Date: March 25 Details TBA***Sustainable Maryland event***
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ON-LINE SUSTAINABILITY COURSE AT UMD
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Check out the new online class
Sustainable Community Development, offered by UMD's Environmental Finance Center and Institute for Governmental Service and Research. The class emphasizes sustainable community development for counties and municipalities in the State of Maryland. And for municipal residents of Maryland, the class provides an introduction to the EFC's Sustainable Maryland program.
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REMINDER: SUSTAINABLE MARYLAND CERTIFICATION DEADLINE IS JUNE 30, 2015
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| Greenbelt Green Team, accepting certification award in 2014 |
It's not too early to start thinking about getting your community Sustainable Maryland Certified this year! How? First, if your community is not registered yet, pass the resolution to enroll in the program. If you are registered and have a Green Team, start identifying which Actions have been completed, and others from your Action Plan that can be completed in the next 6 months. Feel free to contact Mike Hunninghake at 301-405-7956 or mikeh75@umd.edu to schedule a phone call or visit to assess where your community stands currently, and to receive guidance and technical assistance in achieving certification in 2015!
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"DEAD MALLS" ACROSS MARYLAND PRESENT UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GREEN RETROFITS
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Owings Mill Mall, one of many "dead malls" in Maryland (Credit: Dan Reed via Flickr)
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A recent New York Times article highlighted the growing number of "dead malls" across the United States, and featured many in Maryland, including the Owings Mills Mall and Landover Mall. These once vibrant retail spaces offer unique opportunities for communities to retrofit their suburban shopping areas and insert more housing (including low and moderate income); create centrally located civic spaces such as churches, post offices, and fitness centers; and replace seas of asphalt with green spaces, including infrastructure that will help prevent stormwater runoff pollution. Many communities without a true "center" can re-purpose these places to create a new Main Street. Green Teams can be the catalyst for creating a vision to transform these voids and bring them back to a more sustainable use. Check out this slideshow of "dead malls" in Maryland. And for more ideas about resurrecting dead malls and other "greyfields", order the book Retrofitting Suburbia at your local bookseller.
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MARYLAND SMART ENERGY COMMUNITIES GRANTS FOR NEW COMMUNITIES - DEADLINE JANUARY 26
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Communities that have yet to participate in the Maryland Energy Adminstration's Smart Energy Communities grant program are encouraged to apply for 2015 grants before the Jan. 26 deadline. These can be used for energy efficiency, renewable energy and transportation fuel reduction projects, many of which can receive points towards Sustainable Maryland certification. More info
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EFC IS TWEETING! FOLLOW THE ENVIRONMENTAL FINANCE CENTER AT UMD ON TWITTER
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The Environmental Finance Center at the University of Maryland is now on Twitter! Follow EFC at www.twitter.com/UMDEFC
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QUOTE
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"The question really isn't what will be lost anymore, but what we will decide to save."- J im Titus, Maryland resident and leading sea-level-rise official at the Environmental Protection Agency, from this month's powerful Baltimore Magazine article The Sea Also Rises, about sea-level rise impacts on coastal and urban areas in Maryland
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Sustainable Maryland is an initiative of the Environmental Finance Center at the University of Maryland. It is a free and voluntary program designed to help Maryland communities choose a direction for their sustainability efforts, improve access to resources needed to implement action, and recognize their accomplishments. Our sponsors include the Town Creek Foundation, US Environmental Protection Agency, and the Maryland Municipal League. For more information about how your municipality can register in the Sustainable Maryland program, plus customized Green Team training and access to student resources that are available to provide consultancy services for municipal planning, please contact 301 405-7956 or mikeh75@umd.edu
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Mike Hunninghake
Program Manager
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